Foster, You're Dead!
Encyclopedia
"Foster, You're Dead!" is a 1955 science fiction
short story
by Philip K. Dick
. It was first published in Star Science Fiction Stories No.3
.
The story takes place in 1971 and revolves around Mike Foster, the adolescent son of an "anti-P," a man who refuses to buy a bomb shelter
or financially support nuclear war
preparations for his town. Mr. Foster argues that the military industrial complex is creating fear to sell more bomb shelters. In this story bomb shelters are updated and "improved" every year (much like vacuum cleaners or automobiles) when the Soviets supposedly develop new methods of attack on previously-developed shelters. Mike, however, lives in fear that he will not have access to a shelter when the war begins and is a social outcast because of his father's political positions.
The story is a satire
of two 1950s-era trends: consumerism
and increasing Cold War
anxiety. Dick wrote in a letter: "One day I saw a newspaper headline reporting that the President
suggested that if Americans had to buy their bomb shelters, rather than being provided with them by the government, they'd take better care of them, an idea which made me furious. Logically, each of us should own a submarine, a jet fighter, and so forth."
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
. It was first published in Star Science Fiction Stories No.3
Star Science Fiction Stories No.3
Star Science Fiction Stories No.3 is the third book in the anthology series, Star Science Fiction Stories, edited by Frederik Pohl. It was first published in 1954 by Ballantine Books.-Contents:*It's Such a Beautiful Day by Isaac Asimov...
.
The story takes place in 1971 and revolves around Mike Foster, the adolescent son of an "anti-P," a man who refuses to buy a bomb shelter
Bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
or financially support nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
preparations for his town. Mr. Foster argues that the military industrial complex is creating fear to sell more bomb shelters. In this story bomb shelters are updated and "improved" every year (much like vacuum cleaners or automobiles) when the Soviets supposedly develop new methods of attack on previously-developed shelters. Mike, however, lives in fear that he will not have access to a shelter when the war begins and is a social outcast because of his father's political positions.
The story is a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of two 1950s-era trends: consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
and increasing Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
anxiety. Dick wrote in a letter: "One day I saw a newspaper headline reporting that the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
suggested that if Americans had to buy their bomb shelters, rather than being provided with them by the government, they'd take better care of them, an idea which made me furious. Logically, each of us should own a submarine, a jet fighter, and so forth."